The Cape Metropole Municipality is starting a data-base of dogs and cats in private ownership soon. This has only been published recently, and I saw it in 'Die Burger' yeaterday. It states that dogs/cats that have not been registered by the end of August this year, can land us as pet-owners a fine of up to R300. Parrots, fish, guinea pigs, white rats etc. are exempted from this. Goats, sheep, horses etc. don't count as pets, but as livestock and for them a permit must be sought from the Health Department.
They have also put a limit on the amount of animals one may keep on a property, in order to prohibit people to keep too many pets. People living in flats may (where this is allowed) keep two dogs older than six months, plus four cats. There is no limit on the amount of puppies under the age of six months (as some people may from time to time breed puppies for sale.) If you have a property smaller than 600 square meters, you may keep three dogs and four cats. On a property in excess of 600 square meters, you may keep four dogs and four cats, and on a smallholding / farm, six dogs and six cats. For more than the above amounts, you'll need to be i) a breeder registered with the Kennel Union of Southern Africa, and ii) you'll need to apply for a breeder's permit from the Municipality.
The City Council has emphasized that the information supplied by us will not be used to force pet-owners later to buy dog licenses.
Mr. J.P. Smith, Mayoral Committee member for Safety and Security, stated that the process to register pet-owners has started last Monday. So, please visit the website below to register your pets:
www.capetown.gov.za
It is not altogether a bad thing. I read in the paper that represenatives of the Council will also go from door to door in the townships to explain the process to the residents. For those without e-mail, forms will be handed out / can be sought from your local City Council office, and registration of pets is for free.
They have also put a limit on the amount of animals one may keep on a property, in order to prohibit people to keep too many pets. People living in flats may (where this is allowed) keep two dogs older than six months, plus four cats. There is no limit on the amount of puppies under the age of six months (as some people may from time to time breed puppies for sale.) If you have a property smaller than 600 square meters, you may keep three dogs and four cats. On a property in excess of 600 square meters, you may keep four dogs and four cats, and on a smallholding / farm, six dogs and six cats. For more than the above amounts, you'll need to be i) a breeder registered with the Kennel Union of Southern Africa, and ii) you'll need to apply for a breeder's permit from the Municipality.
The City Council has emphasized that the information supplied by us will not be used to force pet-owners later to buy dog licenses.
Mr. J.P. Smith, Mayoral Committee member for Safety and Security, stated that the process to register pet-owners has started last Monday. So, please visit the website below to register your pets:
www.capetown.gov.za
It is not altogether a bad thing. I read in the paper that represenatives of the Council will also go from door to door in the townships to explain the process to the residents. For those without e-mail, forms will be handed out / can be sought from your local City Council office, and registration of pets is for free.